Learn how to create and manage a list of Close Friends on Instagram, and share your story with only the people on this list.
While the Close Friends feature on Instagram may not be brand new, it may be new to you. You can choose the friends you want on this exclusive list and then share your story just with them instead of everyone. This is a handy way to share a story with your closest pals or immediate family.
Also see: How to publish Instagram Post, Story, or Reel for just one person
Create your Close Friends list on Instagram
To start adding people to your Close Friends list, open the Instagram app on your phone and follow these steps.
- Go to your Instagram profile and tap the menu icon on the top right.
- Select Close Friends.
- If this is the first time you are creating the list, you’ll see a welcome type of screen. Tap Get Started. You’ll see a list of suggested people as well as a Search box at the top if you want to find someone in particular. Tap the circle next to each person you want to add to the list, and finally tap Done.
Edit your Close Friends
You can add and remove people from your Close Friends list anytime. Use the steps above to go to the Close Friends settings in the Instagram app and do the following:
- Add: Use the search bar or the suggested accounts to add someone to the list.
- Remove: Uncheck the box next to your friend to take them off the list.
- Remove everyone: If, for some reason, you want to take everybody off the list, tap Clear All.
Remember that when you add or remove people from your Close Friends, they will not receive a notification.
Share your story with Close Friends
When you create a story that you want to share only with your Close Friends, it’s super easy. Capture the story as you normally would, then tap Close Friends on the bottom left. That’s it!
After you share your story with your friends on that list, you can see this, too. Open the story, and you’ll see a star in green on the top right. Tap it, and a message will display, letting you know you’ve shared it with Close Friends. You also have an option to Edit Your Close Friends List right from that pop-up.
About Close Friends on Instagram
Here are a few things to note about your Close Friends list on Instagram.
- When you add or remove people from your Close Friends, they will not receive a notification.
- Stories you share with Close Friends still disappear after 24 hours like any other story.
- People who are on your Close Friends list will know they’re on it, but they cannot see who else is on your Close Friends list. Only you can see your full Close Friends list.
- No one can request to be added to your Close Friends list.
- If someone has added you to their Close Friends list, you’ll see a green badge when you’re viewing their stories and a green ring around their profile photo.
When you have a lot of followers on Instagram and have a story that you only want a few people to see, using your Close Friends list is the perfect way to do it. So, are you going to create a Close Friends list? Let us know your thoughts!
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